"I'll be back next month. If you can't come up with enough gold coins to pay off your debts, don't even think about keeping this territory. Just wait to be fed to the barbarians!"
"..."
Watching the dust rise from the departing horses' hooves, Roman, who stood like a minion, waited for the dust to settle before letting out a deep breath.
Although it was past noon, the sunlight was still blinding. He lowered his head, avoiding the murmuring villagers gathered around, but unexpectedly, someone walked up to him.
"My Lord, I still have some spare money. How about I lend you some for an emergency?"
The bald, pot-bellied middle-aged man named Nelson looked at Roman's bitter face, his eyes glinting with greed.
"Otherwise, when Lord Andrew comes next time, without your territory, you might even lose your noble status... Oh dear, look at my big mouth."
He feigned slapping his fleshy cheeks twice, not continuing, but everything was unsaid.
Borrow from you?
I'd rather hang myself from a crooked tree!
This fat pig relies on his connection with Duke William of the borderlands to lend money at usurious rates everywhere. Now he most likely wants to snatch a noble title.
And he's set his sights on my territory!
If I lose my noble status, some people won't let me off so easily. The moment I step out of this territory will be my death.
"I have my ways."
Roman gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, then walked back to his administrative office without looking back. He still had one last thing he could sell.
Enough to cover next month's deficit.
Nelson sneered at the stubborn back, then, with the help of his servant, struggled onto a thin red horse, slowly chasing after Andrew, who hadn't gone far.
Back in his administrative office, Roman hid in the study. It was called a study, but there wasn't even a decent book inside, only a set of creaky, dilapidated tables and chairs.
"Young Master Roman, please have some tea."
A young girl in a worn-out long dress carefully placed a cup of tea in front of Roman.
The only one in the entire territory who genuinely treated him well was this little maid, Rose. She had remained loyal all this time, though the original owner seemed ungrateful, constantly ordering her around.
Thinking of this, Roman did not disappoint the other party's kindness and took a light sip of the low-quality tea.
It was very bitter.
But now they couldn't afford milk and sugar anymore.
"You go out first and let me be quiet."
"Yes."
Rose carefully tidied the tea set, then backed away from Roman, her eyes full of worry.
Roman sat alone in the study, lost in thought.
Just three days ago, he was a Blue Star wage slave who dreamed of getting rich every day, but when he woke up, he had transmigrated to the continent of Xander, a place with magic and battle aura.
Fortunately, he had transmigrated into the body of a small lord of a border territory.
Unfortunately, this guy was heavily in debt and was almost literally selling his pants.
The original owner's parents died mysteriously, and according to kingdom law, as the sole heir, he successfully inherited everything.
Then the ignorant little lord was quickly set up by the kingdom's nobles.
After plundering most of his family's assets under various pretexts, he was also saddled with a mountain of debt.
In just two short years, a once peaceful and prosperous border territory suffered frequent man-made disasters, and public morale was on the verge of collapse. Some people were already thinking about how to move away.
"What should I do...?"
Roman savored the bitterness in his mouth, leaning back in his chair, deep in thought.
In a trance, he saw a glowing white panel, covered with text.
"Barren Wheat Field Lv0 (Upgradable)"
"Lv1: Crop growth speed +20%, crops upgrade to sunlight wheat, satiety effect +20%, can improve physique."
"Upgrade Conditions: sunlight magic crystal x 2, Drive away Field Mice (Not achieved), Open irrigation ditch to connect to river (Achieved)"
"Beast Pen Lv0 (Upgradable)"
"Lv1: Internal domesticated creature growth speed +20%, ordinary creatures have a 1% chance to mutate into Magic Beasts."
"Upgrade Conditions: Tier 1 Magic Beast Core x 1, Repair broken wooden fence (Achieved), Domesticate creatures (Achieved)"
"Blacksmith Shop Lv0 (Upgradable)"
"Lv1: Weapon forging efficiency +5%, durability +5%."
"Upgrade Conditions: Black iron ingot x 20 jin, Flame Lizard's tail fat x 1 barrel, Convince blacksmith Ragnar to resume work (Not achieved)"
"Watchtower Lv0 (Upgradable)"
"Lv1: Sturdiness +10%, vision +10%, sentries gain night vision."
"Upgrade Conditions: Hardwood x 30, Dedicated sentry (Not achieved), Defeat Gnoll scouts harassing the territory (0 | 3) (Not achieved)"
"Boundary Marker Lv0 (Upgradable)"
"Lv1: Weak deterrence against low-level Magic Beasts."
"Upgrade Conditions: magic crystal stones x 3, Territory population reaches 200 (Achieved), Carve family crest on monument (Not achieved)"
"Lord's Administrative Office Lv0 (Upgradable)"
"..."
Roman's eyes slowly widened.
Before he could ponder what was going on, a large amount of knowledge was violently poured into his mind.
This panel was called the "Territory Development System." In short, by fulfilling the corresponding conditions given by the panel, he could upgrade the corresponding buildings within the territory, thereby granting these buildings the respective abilities.
Currently, the easiest for Roman to start with was the territory's Beast Pen. The conditions only required domesticating creatures inside, repairing the broken wooden fence, and one Tier 1 Magic Beast Core.
He had personally mended that fence yesterday!
As for this Tier 1 Magic Beast Core... it was a gift prepared by the original owner's parents before his birth. As long as he successfully cultivated his first wisp of battle aura, he would be able to absorb the energy within this Tier 1 Magic Beast Core to become a Knight Attendant, thus stepping into the extraordinary!
Valued at ten gold coins, if used sparingly, it would be enough to feed and water fifty commoner households for a year!
However, the original owner was reluctant to sell it, but despite trying every method, he couldn't cultivate even a trace of battle aura. To change this situation, he had poured countless sums of money into it, but the situation hadn't changed at all until he transmigrated.
And even a Tier 1 Magic Beast, whether its flesh, hide, or special parts, was a valuable resource.
Not to mention, Magic Beasts might also produce extremely valuable Magic Beast Cores.
Currently, there was a sow in the Beast Pen that was about to give birth.
Then there was nothing to hesitate about!
Roman abruptly stood up, pushed open the door, and strode out... to the front of the Beast Pen outside the backyard.
"Upgrade!"
As Roman's thoughts moved, the precious Tier 1 Magic Beast Core in his hand silently vanished with the wind, as if it had never existed in this world.
At the same time, the effects and upgrade conditions for the next level of the 【Beast Pen】 appeared on the glowing white panel.
"Beast Pen Lv1 (Upgradable)"
"Current Effects: Internal domesticated creature growth speed +20%, ordinary creatures have a 1% chance to mutate into Magic Beasts."
"Lv2: Probability of Magic Beasts producing Magic Beast Cores within the Beast Pen increases by 10%, Magic Beasts have a 1% chance to purify their bloodline when giving birth to offspring, internal domesticated creature growth speed increases by 20%."
"Upgrade Conditions: Tier 2 Magic Beast Core x 10, Special beast-trapping fence (Not achieved), Domesticate Magic Beasts within the Beast Pen (Not achieved)"
A Level 2 Beast Pen could actually increase the probability of Magic Beasts producing cores?
Roman vigilantly scanned his surroundings, making sure no one was watching him, then rubbed his eyes, somewhat disbelieving.
Having inherited the memories, he naturally knew how precious Magic Beast Cores were, and this Level 2 Beast Pen could actually increase the probability of producing cores?
Didn't this mean that as long as he had the ability to domesticate Magic Beasts inside, he would have an endless stream of wealth rolling in in the future?
Roman's thoughts drifted, and he felt a bit more confident. But in an unguarded moment, he noticed the grunting sow in the Beast Pen now began to wail, seeming... to be giving birth?